Freestyle Motocross legend Robbie Maddison will take part in the unique Red Bull Race Off event during this weekend’s 2011 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Maddo will go up against veteran F1 driver David Coulthard, red-hot Aussie Daniel Ricciardo – who is a rising F1 star – and V8 Supercars star Rick Kelly, the youngest driver ever to cross the Bathurst finish line first.
The Red Bull Race Off will see the four Red Bull stars from different racing disciplines square up on the starting line and go head-to-head in a unique one-off event driving customised Megane Renault Sport 250s.
Maddo is pulling out all the stops and wants to finish ahead and hasn’t ruled out an “unfortunate mishap” with Jack Daniels Racing Team owner Kelly if he doesn’t agree to give Maddison an endurance drive at the Bathurst 1000 in one of his VE Commodores.
“For sure, I have a goal to race V8 Supercars after I hang up my boots in the next three to four years – so I’m trying to take any advantage I can to get there,” he laughed.
“I think I might be able to scam an enduro drive out of Rick. When it come down to the fear factor, I think I’ll be able to show him no problem. I’ll hold the pedal down flat around a course that none of us know too well.
“I’ll have a wager with him for sure that if I beat him he has to give me a start in one of his cars in V8 Supercars. And if I beat Daniel Ricciardo, we should make a deal that we swap jobs for a season and I’ll go into F1 and he can go into Freestyle Motocross.”
Jokes aside, though with Maddo you never can be too careful, the 29-year-old said he’s super pumped at the opportunity to share the track with some four-wheel stars and prove he has what it takes to succeed in V8s in the future.
“It’s an awesome opportunity obviously to drive in front of the whole industry over here and not only that, but to drive against world-class drivers,” he added. “I’m hoping I can go out there and run a smooth consistent lap and show I can be that. And if I can do that, there’s no reason I can’t beat one or two of these guys.
“I’m stoked at the opportunity to drive in Red Bull Race Off and hopefully I can go out there and not embarrass myself.”